Doctoral Dissertation Research: Habitat Effects on Positional Behavior and Fine Branch Use in Arboreal Cercopithecid Monkeys

博士论文研究：栖息地对树栖猴的位置行为和细枝使用的影响

• 批准号: 0244773
• 负责人: David Watts
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: Yale University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-03-15 至 2004-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0244773&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Habitat; Effects

Biologists and anthropologists interested in anatomy, evolution, and behavior rely on the interrelationship of these elements to interpret both living and extinct primate morphological and behavioral adaptations. However, the complex interaction of phylogenetic history, current behavioral specializations, and habitat characteristics makes this exercise difficult. More specifically, debate exists on whether primate positional behavior and support use are canalized and fixed based on phylogenetic constraints, or are highly flexible and context specific. The lack of studies investigating variation in positional behavior and support use across habitats and seasons leads to assumptions concerning primate adaptations and the use of a given habitat. These issues challenge morphologists and ecologists engaged in constructing "typical" profiles of positional behavior for primate species, which are ultimately used to reconstruct evolutionary history. These questions have become particularly relevant in the study of African arboreal cercopithecid monkeys. Results of comparative studies of multiple taxa between two sites (Tai Forest, Ivory Coast, and Kibale Forest, Uganda) vary in certain aspects of positional behavior and support use, especially for the red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus badius), which was studied at both sites. This suggests that the influence of habitat on positional behavior and support use requires further study.Mr. Aronsen's research would contribute to this debate by comparing positional behavior, support use, and habitat preferences in three arboreal monkeys (red colobus, Piliocolobus badius; redtailed monkeys, Cercopithecus ascanius; and grey-cheeked mangabeys, Lophocebus albigena) at Ngogo, located within the Kibale National Park of Uganda. Mr. Aronsen will record data on positional behavior and support use using continuous focal sampling and group scans of highly habituated groups in each species. Habitat structure and patterns of use will be measured using daily follows, transects, and phenological surveys. Primary focus will be placed on fine branch use in all taxa, as these smallest available supports represent a key area for foraging; they are also the most difficult to navigate, thus indicating varying positional and support preferences across taxa and body sizes. These data will then be compared to similar data available from neighboring Kanyawara (for all three species) and the Tai forest (for P. badius).Mr. Aronsen's research has broad implications beyond the study of Kibale monkeys. While his study will examine a significant problem in primate evolutionary biology, it will also inform decisions regarding conservation of primates and their habitats. By examining how flexible or static their behavior is given forest disturbance or logging, one can evaluate the potential impact humans may have on a primate population's overall health and survival. He will also collaborate with Ugandan researchers and field assistants, and share his results and methods to increase knowledge of these issues. This research will also allow him to train and educate students to further study nonhuman primates in their native habitat. Finally, his conclusions will be made available for other researchers to compare other primate species and habitats beyond Africa, thus developing a more comprehensive portrait of primate biology, behavior, and evolution.

对解剖学，进化和行为感兴趣的生物学家和人类学家依赖于这些元素的相互关系来解释生活和灭绝的灵长类动物形态和行为适应。 然而，系统发育历史，当前行为专业和栖息地特征的复杂相互作用使此练习变得困难。 更具体地说，关于灵长类动物的位置行为和支持使用是基于系统发育约束还是高度灵活且特定于上下文的争论。 缺乏研究栖息地和季节的位置行为变化和支持使用的研究导致有关灵长类动物适应和使用给定栖息地的假设。 这些问题挑战了形态学家和生态学家，他们致力于为灵长类动物物种构建位置行为的“典型”概况，这些物种最终被用来重建进化史。 这些问题在研究非洲树木cercopithecid猴子方面尤为重要。在位置行为和支持使用的某些方面，两个地点（Tai Forest，Ivory Coast和Kibale Forest）之间多个分类单元的比较研究的结果，尤其是在两个地点研究的红色Colobus Monkey（Piliocolobus Badius）。 这表明栖息地对位置行为和支持使用的影响需要进一步研究。阿农森的研究将通过比较三个树木猴（红色果酱，piliocolobus badius; redtailed Monkeys，cercopithecus ascanius; cerey-Cheek cheeked Mangabeys，lophocebus albigena）在Ngogo的Natgoga，在National Parke national Parke national Parke national Parke national Park in National Parke，这将通过比较三个树木猴的位置行为，支持使用和栖息地的偏好来促进这场辩论。 阿罗森先生将记录有关位置行为和支持使用的数据，并使用连续的焦点采样和对每个物种中高度习惯的组的群体进行扫描。 栖息地结构和使用模式将使用每日以下，样本和物候调查来衡量。 主要的重点将放在所有分类单元中的精细分支机构上，因为这些最小的可用支持代表了觅食的关键领域。它们也是最难导航的，因此表明跨分类单元和身体大小的位置和支持偏好的不同。 然后，将将这些数据与相邻Kanyawara（所有三个物种）和Tai Forest（P. Badius）的类似数据进行比较。除了对基巴莱猴子的研究之外，阿罗森的研究具有广泛的影响。 尽管他的研究将研究灵长类动物进化生物学的一个重大问题，但它还将为有关灵长类动物及其栖息地的保护做出依据。 通过检查如何使他们的行为具有柔韧性或静态的行为，可以评估人类对灵长类动物人群的整体健康和生存的潜在影响。 他还将与乌干达的研究人员和现场助手合作，并分享他的结果和方法以增加对这些问题的了解。 这项研究还将使他能够培训和教育学生在其本地栖息地进一步研究非人类灵长类动物。 最后，他的结论将得到其他研究人员的比较，以比较非洲以外的其他灵长类动物和栖息地，从而对灵长类动物的生物学，行为和进化进行了更全面的肖像。